Not even a perfect start to the season could erase the pain of the sting the Kansas City Chiefs felt when not one, but two of their players were forced off the field. The same offense that was beating every single team they went against had just lost Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton, their highest-producing receivers. And the answer was clear. 

The Chiefs thought a reunion with ‘The Cheetah’ could solve their problems. But his return won’t be easy, and with Tyreek Hill facing legal problems, the Chiefs have been forced to pivot. And even though they’re looking to bring back a three-time Super Bowl champion, we’re not convinced it’s the right move.  

The Chiefs are looking to bring back Justin Watson, who’s currently a free agent. He is expected to be in town on Monday, and Kansas City is among the list of potential destinations for the veteran. 

Kansas City Star beat writer Pete Sweeney confirmed the same, writing in an X post, “The Chiefs are among several teams interested in WR Justin Watson, per source. Watson played for Kansas City from 2022-24 and is a three-time Super Bowl champion, having beaten the Chiefs with the Bucs before being part of their back-to-back title teams.”

The Las Vegas Raiders face-off came as a blow to the Chiefs’ wide receiver room. Thornton suffered a severe left ankle dislocation in the fourth quarter, while in the first quarter, Rashee Rice left the game with a hamstring injury after corralling a first-down pass ​from Mahomes.

That’s why, on paper, the signing looks solid. After kicking his NFL career off with the Bucs, he came to the Chiefs in 2022, putting in a standout campaign just a year later. The receiver 27 passes for 460 receiving yards and three touchdowns. During his three-year stint with the Chiefs, he finished with 64 catches for 1,064 yards and seven scores.

This was the same receiver the team won multiple Super Bowl titles with. A veteran who can rejoin a familiar system makes sense, right? After all, the Chiefs need receivers. But there’s an important thing to remember, and that’s his time with the Texans. 

You see, after the 2024 season, Watson moved to the Texans, but he was limited to three games with a calf injury. By the time he returned, he couldn’t make the roster by the time the 53-man roster was finalised. That’s why he’s looking for a new home. 

And sure, there’s a case to be made for Watson, that he performed well with Brady and Mahomes, and that with a good quarterback, he’s serviceable. But is that the direction the team is looking to take? 

The team already has some talent in the practice squad. We’re talking about Andrew Armstrong. Even though he didn’t make it through the roster cuts, Armstrong did put in some impressive performances in the training camp. With Rashee Rice returning in the next few weeks, signing Armstrong to the active roster could build the team’s receiver roster for the future. Armstrong could get valuable snaps alongside veterans to establish himself.

And the option remains open for the team this season. Before 2026, the passing attack took the bulk of the offensive snaps for the Chiefs. But this year, with Kenneth Walker running the show on the ground, it could be the perfect time for the Chiefs to try a young receiver. 

More importantly, it leaves the door open for adding a bigger name to the receiver room: Tyreek Hill. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the NFL’s investigation into Hill under its Personal Conduct Policy remains active. Court filings from April 2025 show that Vaccaro petitioned to end their marriage and described alleged incidents of domestic abuse.

At the moment, there’s no clarity about when Hill will receive his verdict, but the receiver has been keen to return to the Chiefs. Earlier in the off-season, he was spotted in Kansas City, and when Patrick Mahomes heard about the possibility of a return, the QB had this to say: “I have no idea [if that would happen], but it’d be pretty cool.”

As for Hill, he’s made it clear he has plenty of football in him. “I just find ways to try to come back and, you know, overcome being complacent with where I am in life and always knowing that there’s more. You know, like I said, my grandparents created that dog in me early. You know, God can place it in my heart that I still have more football left… I’ll be ready in November.” 

In any case, the Chiefs will go up against the Chargers in Week 6 after a bye week. There are chances of Rice’s return, but going up against a team that’s 0-5 this season, the team may not be worried for an immediate solution.